Diseases From the Dog Pound

Dogs that come to a dog pound or shelter are susceptible to a wide range of diseases because of the close living quarters. While a dog can arrive at a pound carrying most any disease, the diseases that spread easily are those that are most common and most contagious.

  1. Canine Parvovirus

    • Canine parvovirus, or parvo, is highly contagious and can cause severe or life-threatening disease in dogs. Parvo can sustain itself in any environment for months. Parvovirus is a virus that attacks the lining of a dog's stomach, causing the dog's body to have difficulty absorbing nutrients from food. This disease spreads easily from dog to dog. The virus is airborne and enters the dog via the nose. There is a documented incubation period of five to seven days, and during that time a dog can spread it to other dogs. Vaccination in dogs can prevent the disease, and using bleach to disinfect areas where the disease is present in the dog pound will kill the disease.

    Internal Parasites

    • Internal parasites are common in dogs that are in the dog pound. According to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, intestinal disease is more common in puppies adopted from shelters than those purchased from breeders. These internal parasites are mainly hookworms, roundworms, tapeworms and whipworms. These types of parasites spread commonly by a dog eating infected soil or licking their contaminated fur or paws. All dogs that enter the pound should have a test for internal parasites performed and be treated if they are positive for the parasites. In many cases, all dogs get a deworming medication as a preventative to keep them from acquiring any internal parasites.

    Respiratory Diseases

    • Canine infectious tracheobronchitis, or kennel cough, is a respiratory disease found in dogs that spend time at a dog pound. The term kennel cough is commonly used; however, there are several variations of the respiratory diseases a dog in the pound can acquire. A cough is not the only symptom. Other symptoms may include sneezing and discharge form the eyes and nasal passages. Almost all of the pathogens associated the respiratory diseases in dogs can only survive in the environment for less than one month and are inactivated by most disinfectants. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, another disease, canine influenza, is often mistaken for kennel cough. This respiratory disease is common in animal shelters, rescue groups and humane societies. Routine testing and vaccinations can keep the spread of these respiratory diseases under control.